May 20, 2016
Rangers 2, Astros 1
W – Lewis (3-0)
L – McCullers (0-1)
S – Dyson (3)
This wasn’t the first time that Colby Lewis looked like a wizard against the Astros. Blessed with an early lead, he held the Astros scoreless with only four hits in his seven innings of work.
The Rangers got their only two runs in the top of the third thanks to a two-run double by the Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man. This was the only black mark on what was otherwise a very good night for Lance McCullers, who lasted six innings and struck out seven. McCullers also got called for a balk in the 2nd which was complete and total bullshit. Michael Feliz also had an excellent night at the park, pitching three innings and striking out six in relief. Tough to complain about any of the pitching effort.
The Astros tried to mount a comeback in the 9th and did plate a run; Altuve led off the inning with a double and scored on a Rasmus single. Gattis struck out to end the game.
There were at least a couple of instances that just proved it wouldn’t be Houston’s night. One came in the bottom of the 6th when Tony Kemp bunted to the right side. Lewis more or less just scooped the ball toward first to get the out. Another came in the bottom of the 7th when Correa smacked the piss out of a ball back up the middle. It hit either Lewis’s right shoulder or his glove protecting his head and caromed high into the air in shallow center. Odor ran out, camped under it briefly, and did his best Jim Edmonds impression by making a silly dive forward for it. I guess it’s possible that he got fooled a little, but it’s easy to imagine him exaggerating it on purpose.
Oh, and fuck the Rangers.